Blog Pages

02 November 2008

To Move or Not to Move

Question: When photographing a gravestone, is it OK to move an object or objects blocking the inscription or in the way of the "perfect photo?" Hmmm. That's a tough one. While I don't think an all-or-nothing kind of answer is applicable, I often cringe when I hear people speak flippantly of moving objects from gravestones.

Have I ever moved something to read an inscription? Sure. So don't think I'm going "holier than thou" on you. However, I try to remember that more often than not, things were placed on that gravestone with purpose, love, and care.

I do want to point out a pet peeve of mine, though. I shudder to hear of rocks being removed from a gravestone. I do NOT remove rocks from gravestones. Even those little pebbles that are most likely gravel accidentally kicked there by a passerby. Remember this: Rocks often signify a visitor to a particular grave. That rock someone chooses to remove in order to "clean up" the stone and/or photo might've been put there on purpose. I think moving them is incredibly disrespectful.

Sometimes all it takes is a couple of photos or a different angle of your camera shot to get the entire inscription. Not all photos have to be taken "head on." The following is a simplified example, but you can get the idea.

Louise Malone Sadler's tombstone photo #1:

Louise Malone Sadler's tombstone photo #2:

As you can see, between the two photos, the complete transcription can be read:

MotherLouise MaloneSadlerJune 13, 1925 - Sept 12, 1990

So I can honestly say, No flowers were harmed in the filming of this gravestone. :-)

Prefer SG in Your Inbox?

Have You Heard?

This Southern Graves blog is all about cemeteries and tombstones, yes. But did you know about the genealogy? More than 970 posts contain information relating to more than 640 surnames! Visit the Surnames Only page here.

More by Me

Recent Headlines

www.SouthernGraves.net

The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live...'" (Ezekiel 37:1-5, NKJV)